About D.O.s
What is the official definition of a D.O.?
What is the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.?
How many years do D.O.s attend medical school?
What is the D.O. symbol and what does it represent?

Where to find D.O.s
How can I locate a D.O. in my state?
Are D.O.s allowed to practice in all 50 states?
How many D.O.s are there in the United States?
How many D.O.s are there in my state?

About Osteopathic Medical Education
How many osteopathic medical schools are there in the United States and how can I locate one?
How can I apply to an osteopathic medical college?
How can I find statistics/rankings to help me choose the best osteopathic medical college?
Who do I contact about D.O. shadowing?

Certification
What does it mean to be Board Certified?
Which areas of medicine can D.O.s be certified in?
Can a D.O. be certified by an M.D. (allopathic) board?
How can I find out if a D.O. is certified by an osteopathic specialty board?

About Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
What sorts of injuries/illness can OMT treat?

D.O. Comments/Complaints
Who do I contact to file a complaint against a D.O. or to find out if a D.O. has complaints on file?
Who do I contact if I feel that a D.O. has violated the AOA Code of Ethics?
How can I give praise to my D.O. for being a great doctor?

About the AOA
How long is the term of the AOA President?
How can I locate a staff member or department at the AOA?
Does the AOA have an international organization?
How can I access your list of current job listings?
How can I find out the AOA’s position on a specific health issue?

Research
I am doing research on a specific medical term where can I get information on this topic?
Where can I obtain a reprint of an article that appeared in JAOA-The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) or The DO??

Public Health/Medical Advice
I have a medical problem and need your advice. What should I do?
What has the osteopathic medical profession done to prepare for future bioterrorist threats?
As a patient-oriented profession, what does the AOA do to address timely public health care issues?

Insurance
Does my insurance plan cover D.O.s?

About D.O.s

What is the official definition of a D.O.?
D.O.s, n. fully licensed osteopathic physicians who specialize in all areas of medicine; founded on philosophy of treating people, not just symptoms. For more information, please see What is a D.O.?

What is the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.?
D.O.s practice a “whole person” approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they assess the overall health of their patients including home and work environments. D.O.s also receive training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose injury and illness and to encourage the body’s natural tendency toward good health.

How many years do D.O.s attend medical school?
D.O.s attend osteopathic medical school for a period of four years, which includes clinical and classroom learning. For more information, please view information on osteopathic medical education.

What is the D.O. symbol and what does it represent?
The D.O. symbol is called the Staff of Aesclepius (often spelled Aesculapius) and consists of a single serpent encircling a staff, or classically a rough-hewn knotty tree limb. The staff was named after a skilled physician who practiced in Greece around 1200 BC. The term can also be found in Homer's Iliad. Aesclepius is commonly referred to as the Greek god of Healing.

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Where to find D.O.s

How can I locate a D.O. in my state?
To locate a D.O. in your state, select your state from the full list of osteopathic state associations. You may contact the appropriate state association using the listed contact information or link to the Web site to conduct a search for D.O.s in your area. You can also use our Find a D.O. feature on any page of this site.

Are D.O.s allowed to practice in all 50 states?
Yes, D.O.s are recognized for the unlimited practice of medicine in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

How many D.O.s are there in the United States?
Currently, there are more than 67,000 D.O.s in the United States.

How many D.O.s are there in my state?
Access the latest Osteopathic Medical Profession Report to find out the number of D.O.s in your state as well as other statistical information about the osteopathic medical profession.

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Osteopathic Medical Education

How many osteopathic medical schools are there in the United States and how can I locate one?
There are 25 osteopathic medical colleges (COMs) in 28 locations throughout the United States. To locate an osteopathic medical school, please view the complete listing of COMs.

How can I apply to an osteopathic medical college?
All prospective students can use the application service through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. For more information on becoming a D.O., visit Osteopathic Medical Profession.

How can I find statistics/rankings to help me choose the best osteopathic medical college?
The AOA does not rank its colleges. All osteopathic medical colleges must comply with the AOA's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation standards.

Who do I contact about D.O. shadowing?

The AOA strongly believes that mentoring is an essential component of the learning experience for students, interns, residents and young practitioners. Visit www.DO-Online.org/iLearn to learn more about the AOA iLEARN Program or email iLEARN@osteopathic.org.

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Certification

What does it mean to be Board Certified?
Board certification, through one of the 18 Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists certifying boards of the AOA, means an osteopathic physician has successfully completed the necessary education and post-doctoral training to submit to evaluation and examination by the certifying boards. D.O.s who successfully pass the examination and evaluation process in their specialty of choice are then said to be board-certified or Diplomates of the examining board.

In most cases, D.O.s who wish to become certified must complete the following:

• Must be a graduate of an osteopathic medical school.
• Have applied to and been accepted as a registrant by the appropriate specialty board.
• Have documented the satisfactory completion of an AOA-approved internship and the completion of the practice requirement.
• Have documented the satisfactory completion of an AOA-approved residency or preceptorship program if applicable.
• Have met all the requirements as established by the appropriate specialty board.
• Are and remain members in good standing of the AOA or the Canadian Osteopathic Association.

Which areas of medicine can D.O.s be certified in?
Osteopathic physicians can become certified through one of the AOA’s 18 certifying boards. In addition, upon obtaining primary certification, D.O.s can also seek additional certification in subspecialty areas such as cardiology and maternal fetal medicine and in areas of Added Qualifications such as Sports Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. For a complete listing of primary and subspecialty areas, please go to Physician Certification Overview.

Can a D.O. be certified by an M.D. (allopathic) board?
Yes. Osteopathic physicians can receive certification through one of the member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). In order to become board-certified through an ABMS Board, physicians must meet the requirements of that Board.

How can I find out if a D.O. is certified by an osteopathic specialty board?

If you are a credentialer:
Credentialers who wish to obtain primary source verification on certification, and other comprehensive information, can do so by obtaining an AOA physician profile online or by contacting the American Osteopathic Information Association at 1-800-621-1773, extension 8285. The cost of the profile is $16 online; $22 for regular mail, profiles sent via regular mail take four to five business days for delivery; $25 for fax.

If you are a prospective patient:
Patients who would like to check the certification status of a D.O. can contact the AOA Member Service Center at 1.800.621.1773, Option 1 in the menu.

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About OMT

What sorts of injuries/illness can OMT treat?
In 1999, a study released in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that OMT is not only an effective and low-cost form of treatment for low back pain but also a treatment that decreased the need for medications and surgery. In addition to being used to treat low back pain and musuloskeletal abnormalities, OMT can be used to treat asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, sinus disorders and migraines. For more information, click here.

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D.O. Comments/Complaints

Who do I contact to file a complaint against a D.O. or to find out if a D.O. has complaints on file?
In order to file a complaint against a D.O., or to find out about complaints filed against a D.O., contact the medical board in the state where the D.O. practices. Click here for a complete list of state medical boards.

Who do I contact if I feel that a D.O. has violated the AOA Code of Ethics?
Complaints regarding unethical conduct are reviewed by the AOA’s Bureau of Ethics. Complaints must be signed and submitted in written format to the following address:

AOA Bureau on Ethics
C/O Josh Prober, JD
American Osteopathic Association
142 E. Ontario
Chicago, IL 60611-2864

How can I give praise to my D.O. for being a great doctor?
There isn’t a formal process for providing praise for your doctor. However, you can write your D.O. a letter stating your appreciation for the excellent medical care you and your family receive from him/her. In addition, you can write to your health insurance company letting it know that your D.O. is a great medical care provider. Lastly, when family, friends or co-workers ask you to recommend a good physician, you can give them the name of your D.O.

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About the AOA

How long is the term of the AOA President?
The term of the AOA president and president-elect is for one year. For a complete list of all AOA leadership, visit About the AOA.

How can I locate a staff member or department at the AOA?
Call the AOA toll free at 1.800.621.1773 to be connected to a specific staff member or department.

Does the AOA have an international organization?
Yes. In 1996 the AOA created the Council of International Osteopathic Medical Education and Affairs (CIOMEA) to provide organizational leadership that unifies osteopathic medical education and practice throughout the world. The purpose is to ensure the continued advancement of the American model of osteopathic medicine internationally.

How can I access your list of current job listings?
For a list of jobs at the AOA, click here. If you are a D.O. and seeking a position, click here.

How can I find out the AOA’s position on a specific health issue?
To find out the AOA’s stance on a specific health issue, visit our Position Papers.

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Research

I am doing research on a specific medical term where can I get information on this topic?
The best place for online research is PubMed run by the National Library of Medicine.

Where can I obtain a reprint of an article that appeared in the JAOA-The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) or The DO?
To obtain copies of past AOA publications, contact the AOA library at isorci@osteopathic.org. You may also access the JAOA online at www.jaoa.org.

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Public Health/Medical Advice

I have a medical problem and need your advice. What should I do?
I’m sorry, but we do not have physicians on staff who can answer your question. You should consult your family physician as soon as possible. If you are interested in finding a D.O., please click the Find a D.O. link at the top of each page.

What has the osteopathic medical profession done to prepare for future bioterrorist threats?
In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Boards of the AOA and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) formed the AOA/AACOM Task Force on Bioterrorism. The mission of the task force is:

• To educate D.O.s to recognize symptoms associated with biological (and other) agents that may be used in terrorist attacks,
• To treat attack victims
• To assist D.O.s in responding to questions and concerns on bioterrorism from patients and the general public.

Among the task forces accomplishments are:

• The issuing of a statement to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly supporting pre-event vaccination against smallpox for all first-responders
• Generating an online information clearinghouse on bioterrorism that includes links from the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and other sites providing current information on biological weapons
• Compiling a resource list of emergency contact numbers for state public health departments and laboratories available to D.O.s through the AOA's Web site.

As a patient-oriented profession, what does the AOA do to address timely public health care issues?
The AOA is involved with key public advocacy programs. For example, the AOA supports Healthy People 2010, the comprehensive public health agenda for the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General emphasizing preventive approaches and health education. The AOA is also serving patient interests through legislative advocacy programs. In 2003, the AOA launched a dedicated advocacy Web site, www.everypatientcounts.org.

Special needs populations are an important part of the AOA's efforts to promote public health. Underserved patient groups, including minorities, women, and those in rural areas, are a focus of outreach efforts. The AOA's initiative in end-of-life care further addresses the growing needs of America's aging population.

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Insurance

Does my insurance plan cover D.O.s?
Most insurance plans cover D.O.s. To find out the specifics about your particular health plan, please contact your insurance provider.

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